Interesting options on C.C. form

I am a birthmom, who has been using CC for help in contacting bson. My first attempt at contact was back in 2000, when I recieved a form (about 3 pages) of questions about why I wanted contact...who knows about adoptions blah, blah blah, they told me they would need a DONATION, however that would not stop them from moving forward and contacting son. ALSO, I asked for any non-identifying info they had on my son, they sent it to me right away. They did and his amom denied me contact. Fast forward to May 2004, I attempt at contact again, this time son is 21 and can make up his own mind. I contact CC, all I had to do is send a letter stating that I would like to have contact and a copy of my license. I did so...not money involved. social worker called son and son agreed to contact...I wrote my first letter to him 3 weeks ago, I am presently waiting for his reply. BTW I am dealing with Catholic Charities out of Orlando,FL....not sure if this matters??? How much $$$ are we talking about here? I cannot believe that they actually put a fee on getting your OWN information??? Best Wishes, Pink

Of course I left the form at home this morning, but I believe the fee to search for the info and summarize it is $150. At least they're calling it a fee and not a donation! :rolleyes: Is it high? Yeah, but as much as I hate to say it, I can't blame them. The catholic church here in the Boston area is getting destroyed with the lawsuits (their own fault mind you - no sympathy from me), and with dozens of closings (and only one part-time employee at this office), the fee makes business sense to me, so I'll likely take the hit. If I find I quoted the wrong fee I'll edit this post. - Matt

I should have looked up your profile. I see that your from MA. I live in NH, I am originally from MA....grew up in Lawrence, MA. I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do. I would love following your story....keep us up to date? Best Wishes, Pink

I was born 11-13-64 in Arlington VA and adopted in Fairfax County, VA and my adoption was handled thru Catholic Charities. I contacted them for info and was sent a packet describing the services they offer. For $100 they will send me any non-id info that was given at time of my adoption. For $400 they will do a Search (like I've been trying to do). I have to get a form from the state, have it notarized and send them a copy for them to start the search. The form is actually a petition to open the sealed record of my adoption. Catholic Charities has an 8 month time limit to try and locate one or both birth parents as the petition will "expire" so to speak. I cannot believe I have to pay for non-id info and that has bothered me for awhile. As for the $400 Search, I was just about ready to pay them to do it since I've had no luck myself, but now I am having second thoughts. If the birth parent denies contact, I could petition the court to open the record anyway, but I would have to have a compelling reason for the court to grant the petition which I don't think I have. So, I can really relate!

I'm one of the people who had a successful search done by CC in New Jersey. They found and contacted my son in about 6 weeks, for a fee of course. And my son's brother in his afamily, who was also adopted, found his bmother through CC NJ as well. Both reunions have been good ones. I don't know about the conspiracy theories. I know they used methods that were coercive towards bmothers in the late sixties. In my experience the search and reunion services are understaffed. They did the minimum, nothing more. For instance, I asked for a copy of the relinquishment papers and they said sure, but never sent it, even with reminders from me. That made me mad because I had to make a statement of why I was relinquishing with no advance warning and no time to think -- Sister Superior was sitting there waiting for me to sign. I would really like to know what I wrote. But that's one of the secrets they're apparently keeping. I can still get angry again thinking about CC's behavior, but honestly, after my reunion it all became so much less important. One thing that's pretty funny to me is that they've put me on their mailing list for fund appeals. That search fee was the last thing they're ever getting from me!

Maryjanek, I am glad to hear that your situation worked out. Like I said before, I am on the fence about working through c.c. But I really want to find my birth parents so I am thinking it seems to be the only way to go. LOL about your name being on their mailing list!

I am looking for my half-sister & they want 350 from me because of my income & being married . Some kinda of charity I'd say . & no guarentees . btw i'm in Md .

It's funny I should run across this post, earlier today I was just filling out paperwork to send to CC. The CC in St. Petersburg FL, wants $25.00 just to see if they have my records. If they have them, it will be another $50.00 for non-id info. I received my non-id info back in 1989 with no fees or paperwork, just a phone call. Guess things have changed. I'm curious what my new non-id will say that the previous did not. My brother (also adopted thru CC) has since filed the paperwork, paid I think around $75.00 total and has a successful reunion with his birthmother and birthfather. So in the end I think it is worth it. I certainly don't agree that they should be aloud to charge us for our own info, but what choice do we have. Good luck to all that are searching. Kristin

Unfortunately we don't have a choice. What is strange is how there is no set price, almost as if each CC sets it's own fees. But the more I read the more I am frustrated that we have to pay for our non id info. But, I guess if we want info and hopefully a reunion, then we have to "bite the bullet" and pay the fee.

I am a PAP through CC and we recently found out that they charged us $1000 more than anyone else we've interacted with for our home study. That was followed by over a year with absolutely NO contact that we didn't initiate (including some emails that were never answered). We actually received a phone call from them recently, the first one ever that wasn't in reply to a call that we had made to them. It was to ask for a donation. I havde to be honest, I'm hard pressed to say anything good about them.